Merry-go-round.



T. W. PRIOR L F. A. CHURCH. MBRRY-GO-ROUND. APPLIOATIONVHLBD 111111.11,1912.

1,082,764. Patented 1160.3(11913.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1. f7

T. W. 'PRIOR & P. A. CHURCH.V

MERRY-GO-ROUND. APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 11, 1912.

1,082,764. Patented Dec.30,1913.

a SHEETS-SHEET z. @a

T. W. PROR Gn F. A. CHURCH.

MBRRY-GO-ROUND.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.11, 1912.

1,082,764, i l Patented 1160.30, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

` a speciication.

Y ment, so that the outcome of the race in Y is displayed.

' merry-.gO-round. Fig. 5 is an enlarged, verumrnn srarns orrron.

THOLIASW. PRIOR ANVI) FREDERICK A. CHURCH, .0F VENICE, CALIFORNIA.

MERRY-GO-ROUND.

Application led March 11,

To all whom t may concern Be it known that'we, THOMAS W. PRIOR andFREDERICK A. CHRCH, both citizens of the United States, residing atVenice, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, haveinvented a new and useful Merry-Go-Round, of which the following is OurpresentJ invention relates to merry-gorounds so constructed that aracing feature is embodied therein.

The invention more particularly relates to a merry-go-round having arevolving table or platform divided into a plurality of segments orsections, each segment or .section of which is provided with a group ofrider supports, such as horses, so that the riders on the merry-go-roundride in groups, each segment of the table containing its own device forproducing the' racing feature for the group of horses on that particularsegeach group on the table is in doubt both to the contestant riders andto the operator of the I nerry-go-round until the finish signal One ofthe main objects of our invention is to produce a merry-go-round of thecharacter described having a revolving table and a plurality of groupsof rider supports, the rider supports of each .group being adapted tochange their relative positions during the revolution of the table.

Another object of our invention is to produce a merry-go-round of thecharacter described of simple form and .construction which may beoperated with great sim\ plicity.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter fr0-rn thefollowing specification.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes onlyFigure 1 Vis a plan view o-f a 'merry-go-round showing the embodiment ofa form of our. invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view of thedevice shown' in Fig. 1, showing the horses on one segment only. Fig. 3isa plan view, partly in sect-ion, of a portion of the table oftheJmerry-go-round'. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, sectional view of aportion of the tical, sectional viewao the switch mechanism andelectrical connections 4for one set of drums. 'Fig'. 6 is a sideelevation of the switch mechanism shown in Fig. 5. Fig. T is asectional,plan View of the tracks for sup- Specication of LettersPatent.

Patenti-.ameno 1913.

1912. serial No. 683,126.

porting the rider supports on the table and operating means therefor.Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of thedriving means.

Our invention consists of a revolving table 1 provided on the)undersidewith a series of inner and Vouter Wheels 2 and 3 adapted to support thetable .on inner and outer circular tracks 4 and 5, respectively. Anydesired means for revolving the table upon the tracks may be employed.'In the present instance we have shown a table provided with a groove 6formed inthe outer edge thereof adapted to receive a cable 7' whichpasses around a driving pulley 8 mounted on a driving shaft 9, the cable7 being kept under proper `tension by means of an idle pulley 10 mountedon a tension spring 11 secured at 12 to any stationary object.

Upon the ycommon forms of merry-go.-

rounds the rider supports, which consist in dierent instances of formsof birds and animals, are either fixed to the table or are so mounted onthe table thatA a movement is given Ato the rider ysupports 'imitatingthe vrelative longitudinal posit-ion. This is accomplished in thefollowing manner: The table 1 is provided with a plurality of groups ofslotsl, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, the slots 21, 22, 23 and 24 in each groupbeing arranged concentric to each other "within a segment of the table.Each slot is provided with a pair of channelbars 26 arrangedlongitudinally therein to form track means for a carriage 27 havingsupporting wheels 28 which engage the channel bars 26. Each carriage 27has pivotally mounted thereon, by means of a pin 30, a supporting arm31, the upper end of which is pivot-ally mounted at 32 to the body ofthe rider support, which, in the present instance, is shown as a horse40, the lower end of the arm 31 being provided with a pin 33eccentrically mounted in a supporting wheel or roller 34, which` roller3-1 is adapted to travel on the floor 35 below the table. The roller 34being eccentrically mounted on the end of the arm 31 imparts alongitudinal swinging 'movement to the horse caused by the lower end ofthe arm 31 rising and falling as the roller 34 travels upon the tloor35. The natural movement of the horse in running is more closelyimitated by pivotally connecting a link 36 at 37 to the horse, the otherend ofthe link 36 being connected by means of a pin 38 yto the arm 31below the pin 30 on the carriage 27, thereby producing a compound move,-ment or action of the horse.

Means are provided for causin the horses 40 to move forwardly in thelrrespective slots which consist of a cable 41, one end of which issecured to an eye 42 on the carriage 27, the other end of which issecured to a drum 43 mounted on a shaft '.44 carried' by any suitablesupporting means on the underside of the table 1. Each shaft 44 isprovided with a drum for each cargroup of slots on the table 1'. Thedrums 43 are loosely mounted on shafts 44 and are adapted in the presentinstance to` be rotated by the shafts 44 by means of a magnetic clutch45 keyed to the shaft 44 -by means of a key 46, it being understood thatany of the Well known forms of magnetic clutches may be used for thispurpose, the magnetic clutch herein shown being indicateddiagrammatically. VEach shaft 44 is driven by means of a sprocket w'heel45 mounted thereon, which sprocket Wheel 45 is driven by means of asprocket chain 39 driven from a sprocket wheel 47 mounted on the shaft48 of one of the adjacent supporting wheels 3 of the table. Eachcarriage 27 is provided with an arm 50 which extends outwardly therefroma suicient distance to engage projections or lugs 51 and 52 formed onthe opposite ends of -a bar 53 slidably mounted in suitable brackets 54secured to the underside of the table 1. The bar 53 is provided with acontact pin 55 adapted to enter between the blades 56 of aswitch 57 forthe purpose of closing an electric circuit hereinafter described for thepurpose of operating the magnetic clutches on'the shaft 44.

The table 1 is provided With a vseries of arms 60 extending inwardlytherefrom for the purpose of supporting'a circular frame or support 61.Mounted on the support 61 is a plurality of bars 62, one for each groupof rider supports on the table. To each bar 62 is secured a stationaryarm 63 and a movable arm 64 hinged thereto at 64. Pivoted to the arm 63is the link 65 ofa to-ggle 66, the other link 67 of the toggle beingpivoted at 68 to the movable arm 64. Secured to the link 65 of thetoggle 66 in any suitable manner is a make andbreak brush or blade 70adapted to engage a circular contact rino' 71, of copper or othersuitable materia, 'when the toggle is in the full line position shown inFig. 6. The pin 72, by means of which the lower link 65 is pivotallymounted on the arm 63, is v4liked with relation to the link 65 and isprovided with a pair of arms 73 and 74 extending 1n opposite directionstherefrom for the purpose of breaking the toggle to either side of the70 center line, the toggle being held in broken position by means of acoll spring 75, one end of which is secured to the arm 64 and the otherend of which is secured to the arm 63. The arms 73 and l74 are operatedby 75 means of spring blades 76 and 77, each having its inner endpivotally connectedat 78 and 79 respectively to the opposite ends of alever 8O pivotally mounted at 81 in a bracket 82 secured in any'suitableVman- 80 ner to a stationary support 83. -Handle means 84 is secured tothe lever 80 for the purpose of rocking the same on the pivot ,-81 so asto bring the blades 76 and 77 into engagement with the respective arms73 85 'and 74 on the pin 72. A-stop 85 is mounted on the arm 63 to limitthe movement of the links of the toggle in the opposite direction, thatis, inthe dotted line position shown in Fig.v 6. 90 Fixed to the arm 63by means of blocks 86 of insulating material is a spring contact brush90 adapted to ride on a circular ring 91, of copper or other suitablematerial, mounted on the support 83. The rings 71 and 91 are connectedrespectively to the opposite sides of an'electrie current supply bymeans of wires v101 and 102. The brush 70 is electrically connectedthrough the toggle 66 and movable arm 64 by means 100 of a wire with theswitch 57 of each magnetic clutch 45. Each bar 53 is connected by meansof a wire 106 with its `as. sociated magnetic .clutch 45. Each magneticclutch 45 is connected by means of a 105 wire 107 to a wire 108connected to the brush 90.

[t is understood that each group of riter supports and its associateddrums and magnetic clutches are controlled by an elect-ric 110 circuit-as just described and that each group of rider supports is independentof the other groups .of rider supports. -The only portibn of theelectric circuit common to all theI groups consists of the motor 100and'115 wires 101 and 102 which connect the motor to the rings 71 and 91respectively.

fIhe operation is as follows The table is revol fed in the directionshown in Fig. 1 through` the medium of cable 7 land the driv- 120 ingpulley 8. The horses40 in the position. shown in Fig. 1 are'in theposition which theyl occupy at any time Aduring the ride. Before theride has started and when the riders are mounting their respectivehorses, 125 the horses in each group are at the rear end of theirrespective slots in the table. The operator then starts the tablerevolving by any of the well known forms of mechanical controllingmeans; at the same time mov- 189 ing the operating line position shownin Fig. 6, thereby bringing the contact blade 7 0- thereof intoengagement with. the ring 71 which closes an electric circuit throughring 71, wire 101 tol the motor Aor source of electric energy 100,thence through wire 102 to ring 91., thence through blade 90, wire 108and wire `107 Ato the respective magnetic clutches 45, thence throughwire 106 to bar 58, the bar 53 being in the position shown inl Fig. 7.Electric current passes through contact pin 55, switch 57, wire 105,thence through movable arm 64, toggle 66, make and break blade 7() tothe ringv 71, thereby completing the circuit. .The electric circuit whenclose n as just described, draws the magnetic clutch into engagementwith the drum'43, and as the table revolves forwardly in the directionindicated by arrow in Fig. 1 the drums 43 on the respective shafts 44are rotated by means ofthe respec-` tive magnetic clutches 45 to slowlywind the respective cables 41 on therespective drums 43, thereby slowlypulling the carriages 27 and the respective horses thereon forwardly inthe channel bars 26'in the respective slotsin the table. Ars-the slot 21of each group is shorter than all of the other slots in the group', thecarriages 27 in the slots 21 reach the forward end of the slot prior tothe time that the carriages in the slots 22, 23 and 24 reach therespective forward ends of the slots. reaches the forward end thereof,the contact on the carriage strikes the lug 52 on the bar 53 and movesthe same forwardly into the dotted line position shown in Fig. '7,thereby moving the contact pin out of engagement with the blades 56 ofthe switch 57, thereby breaking the electric circuit heretoforedescribed. The carriage then being 4carried forward with the table bythe friction `of the rollersV 28 in the channel bars 26 in the table, isretardedbyY the friction of the roller 34 on the floor 35, Ywhich causes55 thereon to lag or drop behind the movement of the table, whichlagging behind of the horse 40 continues until the carriage 27 reachesthe rear end of the slot in the table; at the same time unwinding thecable 41 from the amm is on the Sharan. when the carriage 27 reaches therear end ot the slot the contact 50 carried by thel carriage comes incontact with the lug 51 on the rear end of the bar 53 and moves the bar53 back intoits original position with the contact When the carriage 27in any slot' 'ward' movement of the carriages in their respective slotsin the table is repeatedA a number of timesy during the ride, and as therel speetive slots in each group of slots 1n the tabl-eare of differentlength,s, uthe position of the horses inthe respective groups of slotsonl the table is infdoubt until the make and break brushy 70 is movedout o engagementv f withA the contact ring 71.- This is done bymovingthe operating arm 84 to bring the blade 76 into engagement withthe arms 73 or' the-respective toggle switch mechanism as they pass thefinish line to break vthe toggle into the dotted' line ositien shown inFig; 6', thereby movingA the rush or blade 7 G into the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 6,

which breaks the eetl-'ic circuit withl the motor so. that the magneticclutch for each drunuon the table moves out of engagement, with itsrespectivey drum and all of lth, horses throughy the medium of theric'tional:v

contact of the rollers 34 with the floor Salla behind the movement ofthe table until e horse has reached the rear end of the slot at the timethetable has stoppedits revolution due to thel momentum of the tableafter the power'has been shut ofi'- therefrom. Theend Y' o1 the racetakes place at the time the operator breaks the circuit by moving thebrushvIO out of engagement with the contact ring 71, this beingindicated tothe rider by a signal connected by means of a link with theoperating arm 84 and a signal box 116 on a standard 117 on the support83. The signal marks the finish line, being at the point where theoperating arm 84 is placed, and as each group of horsespasses'therebythe leadiiig horse of each group wins the race for that particulargroup. Any form of signal may be used for this urpose, in the presentinstance the words tart and Finish being shown, the word Start lbeinguncovered when the race starts, and the carriage 27 andthe horse 40carried' the word Finish being uncovered, by operating the link 115,when the operator moves the arm 84 to break the circuit through thebrush 470 and the`ring 71.

While we have shown and described .the particular form of mechanism forcausing the horses to assume different relative posi tions during therevolving movement of the table of the merry-go-round, it is understoodthat we dov not limit our invention to the particular form of operatingdevices herein shown and described, but our invention of the table.

covers a revolving table having groups of rider supports thereon andmeans for causing change in the relative position of the rider supportsin each group.

The blades 76 and 77 heretofore described are constructed of springmetal of suiiicient strength to throw the operating arms of the toggleswitch, but are so arranged that after throwing the arms the bla-desassume their original position in the path of the falling operating armsof the respective switches.

What we claim is 1. A merry-go-round comprising a single table, meansfor revolving the table, a pluralit-y of groups of rider supports onsaid table, means for limiting the rela-tive rotative movement of eachgroup with the table, and means for changing the relative rotativeposition of the rider supports in each group on said table during therevolution of the table.

2. A merry-go-round comprising a table, means for revolving said table,a plurality of groups of rider supports on said table, and means forcausing each of said rider supports to travel faster than said table tochange the relative position of the rider supportsin each group duringthe revolution 3. A, merry-go-round comprising a table, means forrevolving said table, a plurality of groups of rider supports on saidtable, and means for causing each of said rider supportsy to travelalternately faster and slower than said table to change the relativeposition of the' rider supports in each group during the revolution ofthe table.

4s. A merry-go-round comprising a table, means for revolving said table,a plurality of groups of rider supports on said table, each ridersupport consisting of a carriage longitudinally movable with respect tosaid table, a seat mounted on said carriage, means for moving each ofsaid carriages during the revolution of said table, and meansv forlimiting the movement of said carriages to change the position of thecarrlages 1n each group during the revolution* of the ent lengths, meansfor revolving said table,

a rider support mounted in each slot in said table, means forindependently movlng each weaves of said rider supports in itsrespective slot during the revolution of the table to change therelative position of the rider supports in each group during therevolution of the table.

7. A merry-go-round comprising a table having a plurality of groups ofslots therein, the slots in each group being of dilierent lengths, meansfor revolving said table, a rider support mounted in each slot in saidtable, means for independently moving each of said rider supports in itsrespective slot alternately faster and slower than the table to vary therelative position of the rider supports in each group during therevolution of the table.

8. A merry-go-round comprising a floor, a table supported above saidfloor having a plurality of groups of slots therein, means for revolvingsaid table, a rider support mounted in each slot, releasable means forindependently moving each of said rider supports faster than the table,and means on each rider support adapted to engage the floor to cause itsassociated rider support to move slower than the table when saidreleasable means is in inoperative position.

9. A merry-go-round comprising a floor, a table above said floor havinga plurality of groups of slots therein, the slots in each group being ofdii'erent lengths, means for revolving said table, a rider supportmountedin each slot, propelling means mounted on said table forindependently moving each rider support forward in its respective slot,means for releasin said propelling means, and means carrie on each ridersupport adapted to engage said'fioor to cause. each of said ridersupports to move rearwardly y when said propelling means is ininoperative position. i

-10. A merry-go-'ound comprising a fioor, circular rails secured to saidfloor, a table having a plurality of groups'of slots therein, the slotsof each group being of different lengths, a series or supporting wheelsmounted on said table adapted to engage said rails, means -for revolvingsaid table, a rider support mounted in each slot in said table, a shaftmounted on said table at the forward end of each group of slots, aplurality of drums loosely mounted on each shaft, a cable connectingeach rider support to one of said drums, a plurality of clutch means oneach shaft adapted to independently drive each drum from the shaft,means operated by each rider support to operate its respective clutch todrive its respective drum from said shaft to cause the rider 'saidrails,

11. A merry-go-round comprising a Hoor, a pair of lcircular railssecured to said floor, a table having a plurality of groups of slotstherein, the slots of each group being of dif ferent lengths, a seriesof supporting wheels mounted on said table adapted to engage said rails,means for revolving said table, a carriage mounted in each slot, a seaton each carriage, an arm extending downwardly from said carriage, aroller on said arm adapted to engage the floor, a shaft mounted on saidtable at the forward end of each group of slots, a plurality of drumsloosely mounted on each shaft, a cable connecting each carriage to oneof said drums, independent clutch means on each shaft for each drumthereon adapted to drive the respective drums from their respectiveshafts, means on each carriage for placing its respective clutch inoperative and inoperative position, means vfor consecutively placing theclutches oneach shaft in operative or inoperative position, and meansfor driving each shaft. y f,

12. A merry-go-round comprising a floor, circular rails secured to saidioor, a table having a plurality of groups of. slots therein, the slotsof each group beging of different lengths, mounted on said tableada acarriage mountediri each slot-,'aseat above each carriage, anarmhav1ngits :upper end pivotally connected tol saidseat, means for.pivotallyconnecting an intermediate por tion offsaid arm to saidcarriage, a roller mounted on the' lower end of f aptedto engagethe-oor, a link-f eccentricall t said arma pivotally connected to saidseatat its upper end` and 'pivotally connected Vat its lower end to saidarm below said carriage,` a shaft moiuited yon said table at the forwardend of each, group of slots, a plurality of drums looselymounted on eachshaft, a cable connecting 'each carriage to one of said drums,independent clutch means on each shaft for each drum thereon adapted' todrive the respective drums from their respective shafts, means wherebyeach carriage places its respective clutch means in operativeI positionwhen said carriage is at the rear end of the slot, means whereby eachcarriage places its respective clutch means in a series of supportingwheelsv 4 l pted to engagev means for revolving said table, f

Y table, table,

inoperative position when the carriage is at the forward end of theslot, means for placing all the clutches on each shaft in operaplurality of longitudinal slots A plurality of drums loosely mounted onsaid shaft, a cable connecting each of said rider supports with one ofsaid drums, independent clutch means on said shaft for each drum, anelectric circuit, means in said electric circuit operated by therespective rider supports to place the respective clutchesin operativeposition when the rider support is at the rear end of its respectiveslot and to place the clutch in inoperative `osition when the ridersupport is at the orward end of the slot, means for open-ing and closingsaid circuit to simultaneously place all ,ofsaid clutch means 1noperative or lnoperjative posltion, and means on each of said'rider'supports adapted to engage the Hoor and cause the riderv supportto move from @ont 4to thepreartof-lthe--slot when the ted clutch means,"irifinoperative on." A merry-gomound comprising a sinrgl revolubl1el.table, means for revolving the a group of lrider supports on said meansfor changing therelative rotative position ofthe rider supports in saidgroup during the revolution of said table.

and imeans for limiting the relative rotative movement between saidrider supports and said table.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Venice,California, this 4th day of March, 1912.

THOMAS W. PRIOR. FREDERICK A. CHURCH.

In presence of ANNIE J. PRIOR, FRANK M. PRIOR.

Copies 'of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe l Commissioner of Patenti,

. Washington, D. C.

